Seeka Kiwfruit Industries has reported its second consecutive year of well above industry average Orchard Gate Returns (OGR) for its avocado growers.
To date, returns for the 2014-15 season have Seeka's avocado growers being paid out an average OGR of $16.03 per export tray with further payments projected of about $0.30 per export tray, which are likely to be at the top of the sector's returns.
In the 2013-14 season, Seeka orchards' average yield was 12.3 tonnes per hectare, giving a total OGR of $45,862 per hectare. That was more than twice the industry average OGR of $20,721 per hectare reported in the Avocado Industry Annual Report.
"We are a boutique company in terms of avocados," said Michael Franks, chief executive of Seeka.
Seeka is New Zealand's biggest kiwifruit grower and a leading post-harvest operator and premium produce company.